Feeding Your Toddler
The biggest transition when you go from feeding an infant to feeding a toddler isn't usually what he is eating. Sure, your toddler will be eating more “real” table food and less baby food. In fact, some kids have given up baby food altogether by the time they are a year old. The big change is usually in their eating habits.
Picky Eaters
Your older infant probably was eating three big meals each day, consisting of cereal, fruits, vegetables, and meats; three or four feedings of breastmilk or formula; and a few snacks. And that is what helped him to triple his weight that first year. All of that food and all of those calories helped fuel your infant's rapid growth.
That growth slows down quite a bit in the toddler years though. Instead of gaining almost a pound a month, your toddler is expected to gain only five pounds during his whole second year. This slowdown in growth usually translates into a slowdown in eating, because your toddler needs fewer calories and less food energy now.
Although being a picky eater can be normal, you should make sure that your toddler isn't drinking too much milk and juice. If your picky eater is drinking much more than sixteen to twenty-four ounces of milk or four to six ounces of juice, then he might be getting so many calories from what he drinks that he is already too full to eat.
So instead of three big meals a day, you may find that he wants to eat only one good meal each day. He may then just pick at other mealtimes. Even if he seems picky and doesn't seem to be eating much, if he is active and growing and developing normally, then he is likely eating enough. To be sure he is eating well, review your toddler's diet with your pediatrician.
Mercury and Fish
Although fish can be a part of a healthy diet, there are a few reasons not to give your toddler a lot of fish to eat. For one thing, kids can be allergic to shellfish and other fish, so those foods should not be introduced to children under the age of three who are at risk for developing food allergies. The other big danger is that many types of fish are contaminated with mercury, which can harm young children, especially if they are breastfeeding and their mother eats fish.
Once you introduce fish into your toddler's diet, you should be careful about the types and amounts of fish that you let him eat. Specifically, younger children should not eat any shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish. Other types of fish, including shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish, should be eaten in moderation, with no more than two servings of two to three ounces each per week.
This limit of two servings a week also applies to fish sticks and fast-food fish sandwiches. And only one of these weekly servings should be fish that you catch on your own or albacore or white tuna, which can contain higher levels of mercury. Remember that these limits and warnings also apply to the diet of women who are breastfeeding.
